Sunday, October 06, 2013

When did extortion become synonymous with negotiation?

In an earlier post, called "A Republican to English Dictionary" I tried to unmask the language that our Republicans leaders use in conversation so that America could know that their words are hiding ulterior motives for their actions. You can see that blog here.

After listening to John Boehner speaking with George Stephanopoulos this morning, it has become apparent that Republicans think they are negotiating when they are actually using extortion.

Boehner insisted that the government shutdown and any damage done by defaulting on our debts would be the President's and Harry Reid's fault because they "refuse to talk."

John Boehner

Boehner explained that Republicans were united in making the decision to use the continuing resolution to force a discussion around cutting the social safety net, social security, medicare and Obamacare. This is even more than was originally planned, since only Obamacare was used in the Republicans' original threats. When asked if Republicans would negotiate on new revenue he emphatically refused, saying that the President already got his new revenue and there would be no new taxes.

Mr. Stephanopoulos reiterated the advice of economic experts about how economically destructive defaulting on our loans would be. He asked Boehner if he was willing to let this happen. Boehner used his often repeated comment during the interview, that "it would be the President's fault" if we did. It was clear that even if the President gave in to the Republicans extortion of America and sat down to talk with them, he would have nothing to gain and everything to lose.

Is this politics as usual or is something running amuck here?

If someone threatens you with global economic disaster unless you meet their demands, most people would think you are a terrorist. Republicans think it is just everyday negotiating. The Republican mind is a curious thing.

In the 2012 Presidential elections, Republicans campaigned on reversing all Obama-era legislation, changing medicare, revamping social security, cutting the social safety net, giving government welfare to the rich, reducing legislation on business and repealing Obamacare on the first day Romney took office. And then they lost the election. The majority of Americans do not support those policies but that does not stop Boehner from stating publicly that current Republican threats are just "doing what America wants", proving Republicans are stupid as well as stubborn.

In America there is a way to change laws. It follows democratic principles; not the terrorist handbook. Republicans have failed when using the democratic method to defund Obamacare over 40 times. So now they seem content with using tactics that threaten the economic health of America.

Americans know that our government does not negotiate with terrorists. Why should we stop when the terrorists are Republicans?

2 comments:

Anonymous
said...

so, your community organizer, big labor President says that he cannot believe that anyone would shut something down just to prove a point - even though his previous jobs, and his supporters do exactly that, go on strike to get what they want. Why does no one call out this hypocrisy?

The President is purposely causing as much pain as possible just to win, for example stopping movies and football games to soldiers overseas, shutting down the Mt Vernon parking lot (which is half privately owned), spending more on shutting down attractions than is spent on actually running them, etc. and yet, no one calls him out on this. To continue, Harry Reid refusing to partially fund the govt to allow medical testing to continue, open the monuments, etc.

Where are the answers to the above? Am I wrong? And please don't bring up other stuff, this isn't moral tit for tat - I am asking simply if the above actions are wrong, and should a President be stooping so low?

Perhaps you didn't know that the full Senate passed a non-partisan bill to fund the government which did not have any stipulations built in to defund Obamacare, yet John Boehner is not allowing it to be voted on in the House. Dems and some GOPers believe they have the votes to pass such a "clean" continuing resolution to fund the government.

Perhaps you also didn't know that Harry Reid and the Democrats have compromised on that bill to reduce the funding down to near the Ryan Budget funding levels. Yet John Boehner still will not allow the vote in the House.

Republican offers for funding certain parts of the government (their choice) or reducing some of Obamacare are simply delaying tactics that hold the country hostage.

Republican leadership is guilty of holding the country hostage in order to get their demands. That is extortion and they should be held legally liable if any harm comes to America's economy.

The pain that you think the President is causing is really coming from House Republicans. Try to open your mind and realize that your father's Republican party is no longer the same party it once was. It's time for you to use your own mind to evaluate what's right.